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With a name like Realmbuilder, I was expecting Epic Heavy Metal and, sure enough, that's what this two-piece from New York delivers on their third album, Blue Flame Cavalry. There are only four songs on Blue Flame Cavalry, lasting a combined 34 minutes, and each one has its own sound. "They Write Their Names With Fire" is 3 minutes, 42 seconds of speedy, pugilistic Metal that wouldn't sound out of place on an early Omen album. "Advance of the War Giants" slows things down and draws them out to almost thirteen minutes. It is more in the Atlantean Kodex/Grand Magus mold, but is too long and some of the riffs and vocal lines get repeated frequently. The closer and title track is similar while "Adrift Upon the Night Ocean" is very mellow and introspective. I wouldn't have been surprised to hear something like this from Agalloch. Musically, the guitars are the highlight of Blue Flame Cavalry. Multi-instrumentalist J.H. Halberd (rhythm) and guest guitarist Brian Koenig (lead) craft an excellent guitar sound. The vocals, courtesy of drummer Czar, are very plain and really not the kind of powerful bellow this type of Epic Metal usually demands. On the other hand, they are relatively free of effects, giving them a simple, honest sound and, hey, putting your voice out there without any studio help is certainly courageous.

Blue Flame Cavalry has some interesting and engaging parts but is also uneven and unfocused. It is certainly no match for the titans of the Epic Metal genre but I don't get the impression that is what Realmbuilder is going for anyway. Not perfect but a little different, Blue Flame Cavalry is just unique enough to be worth checking out.